Messy braids among popular prom hairstyles

Ginger Hardy, hair stylist and owner of Twisted Hair Salon in Strasburg, works on a client. She said the salon is looking forward to a busy prom season this year.

STRASBURG – Braids and vintage hairstyles are popular prom hairstyles trends, according to Ginger Hardy, owner and stylist at Twisted Salon in Strasburg.

Hardy said loose, messy braids have been very popular over the last several years, and added girls are also asking about styles that mirror celebrities Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

Hardy said her favorite type of hairstyles are classic styles, such as pin curls and finger waves. She also does a “vintage, messy chignon, which are kind of to the side and down low.”

Up-dos are still the most popular prom style, she said, but those not looking to put their hair up could go with big, loose waves.

Most girls come in with a picture of what they would like to have done and the stylist will advise them on how it work for their hair texture, length and color.

“There are the occasional guest that comes in and she says, ‘do whatever you want’ and that’s always super fun for us to be able to use our creativity,” Hardy said. “They are super excited,” she added about the girls preparing for prom.

“They are taking Snapchats of themselves and the whole process. I honestly haven’t had anyone nervous.”

Hardy, a Strasburg High School graduate, said most of her clientele for prom are girls, but occasionally a couple of guys will stop by.

I have a lot of personal relationships with these students being their hairdresser, as well as doing their hair for prom,” she added.

Hardy said the salon blocks off time from noon to 4 p.m. on prom day to work on hairstyles, and that her four stylists see 25-30 girls. Most styles can be completed within an hour. To make this happen, she also has two assistants come in for prep work. Price range is $35-60, depending upon the style and hair length.

“We’ll be completely booked solid probably by next month,” she said.

Hardy added she asks the girls to come in for their appointments with clean hair that’s dry and to wear a buttoned-up shirt so that they won’t muss their hairdo when changing. She said she also does makeup for the girls’ big day.

Twisted Salon is a Paul Mitchell focus salon, which means they only sell and promote Paul Mitchell products.

“And because of that we get free education as often as we want, so we have an educator come out to the salon pretty much every month, and this month, coming up in April, we are going to be working on up-styles to get us prepped for prom, so I’m excited about that,” Hardy said.